ArcaMax

You can commune with God-as-you-perceive-him while you're out walking or riding in a car -- anytime the need surfaces. Out of that fundamental craving for connection comes a deeper hunger to go beyond known boundaries and reach a level higher than human.

That hunger, which I call churchness, draws some people toward one another, and their ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I live in New York City, and the other day, I saw someone's phone get stolen, and I didn't do anything to help. I felt bad, but ultimately, I didn't want to get hurt or have anything stolen from me in the process. I'm a little bit older, a woman and not in the best shape, so I froze in the moment and told myself it was safer to ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have MS. I know that most people are aware of what a dreadful disease it is. But when I tell someone that I have MS, as I must sometimes do, some people say "I'm sorry" -- emphasis on "sorry," as if it is a death sentence.

There are other reactions, as well, though usually not as offensive. How should I respond graciously? ...Read more

Dear Annie: I have been married for 22 years to a good man. He is faithful, hardworking and, by most people's standards, a wonderful husband. He has never given me any reason to doubt his loyalty, and he has always taken his responsibilities seriously. From the outside, we look like a solid, dependable couple. We raised our children together, ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: Seven months ago, my son filed for divorce from his wife of 22 years. Three months ago, he introduced us to "Carlene." Abby, the woman has five children with three different men and is currently married to her second husband. (She filed for divorce two months ago.) She has custody of only two of her children.

Since Carlene entered ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: I just received an invitation to a wedding from an old friend. This friend and I used to be close, but frankly, we started hanging out a lot less because I couldn't afford her lifestyle. She always had a taste for more expensive things in life, and that just wasn't my priority at the time. She used to poke fun at me, calling me ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When I read some of the questions sent to you, it is jarring when the writer includes financial information about someone else. They write things such as "... and they can well afford it" or mention that so-and-so "could very well pay their own way."

Are such statements relevant when asking about manners? For example, if a ...Read more

Dear Annie: I'm having a problem that feels small, but it's starting to make me dread seeing someone I care about.

One of my closest friends has gotten into the habit of "correcting" me in public. If I tell a story, she interrupts to adjust a detail. If I mention a restaurant, she jumps in with the exact neighborhood and the chef's name. If I...Read more

DEAR ABBY: I'm a Christian. I've raised my family to be Christians, and they have raised theirs to be Christians, even though we may not all be members of the same denomination.

One of my grandsons believes that his denomination is the only one and the rest of us are all sinners. He and his wife have decided that no one outside of his church ...Read more

DEAR HARRIETTE: About two months ago, I started dating a guy who makes significantly more money than me. Whenever we go out on dates, he always pays. I never offer because of the large pay gap, and I'm more traditional and believe the man should pay for dates. Up until now, he's never said anything about it, so I assumed he was comfortable with ...Read more

DEAR MISS MANNERS: When writing letters to friends -- and I am of the generation that treats emails like letters -- I am often unsure whether to end the letter with "Love" or "Best."

When my mother was teaching me how to write letters, she said it should always end with "Love, Name" unless it was a business letter, in which case it should end ...Read more

Dear Annie: I never imagined I'd be packing school lunches again at 62.

My husband, "Tom," and I raised our children, worked hard and finally reached that stage where life felt calmer. We downsized, paid off most of what we owed and talked about traveling, volunteering and enjoying a quieter home. Then everything changed.

Last year, our ...Read more

DEAR ABBY: A former boyfriend, "Ray," is an alcoholic. He has been through rehab twice, but it didn't do any good. He won't stop. He keeps saying we'll work it out.

I don't understand why Ray can't get it through his head that I no longer want to be with him. I gave him two chances. Nobody else wants to help him either, including his family.

...Read more

Different silences have built modern America, and we don't like to talk about them. They don't make it into the speeches or even some of the history books. They are the parts that get cut, softened, or turned into something easier to admire.

When we talk about labor rights, we thought we knew the story. Then we learned what Dolores Huerta ...Read more